A new Zaxby's is being planned in place of a former bank in Dunwoody. The chicken chain is looking to build a next generation restaurant with drive-thru in place of a former PNC Bank along Perimeter Center West in an outparcel of Ashford Lane.
Zaxby's, which relocated its corporate headquarters from Athens to Perimeter Summit in nearby Brookhaven in 2024, also last year debuted a new logo. The new logo was introduced as part of a collective refresh of the Georgia-born brand that also includes a new prototype restaurant. Elements of the new look were introduced at the new Zaxby's on Briarcliff Road in Brookhaven which opened January 20.
Whereas the Briarcliff location is owned by multi-unit franchisee Dustin Mullis, the new Dunwoody location is expected to be corporately owned and operated, according to real estate sources familiar with the company's plans. The restaurant would likely serve in similar "flagship"/"showcase" manner as that of the two-story Buffalo Wild Wings that local owner Inspire Brands opened at the front of Perimeter Mall in April 2023.
Zaxby's is expected to formally present its plans to the City of Dunwoody in the coming days.
The chicken chain would not be the first restaurant to make use of a former bank property in Dunwoody - McDonald's opened in place of a former bank at the corner of Ashford Dunwoody Road and Perimeter Center West - but a rival's recent attempt to do so has stalled for months. ToNeTo Atlantaexclusively reported last April that Raising Cane's wanted to open a new restaurant in place of a former Wells Fargo bank along Ashford Dunwoody Road between Perimeter Mall and Perimeter Marketplace.
Sources with whom ToNeTo Atlanta spoke indicated that Dunwoody officials are not keen on the popular chicken tender chain opening on already congested Ashford Dunwoody Road given the issues that could arise from its drive-thru. The proposal is reportedly not dead, but also not close to being a done deal.
Zaxby's site on a slightly less busy road and its location within an existing project with two existing traffic lights could make it more palatable.
Across from Ashford Lane, Dunwoody in late 2024 gave its blessing for a planned Starbucks in front of TJ Maxx.
If approved, Zaxby's would find itself sandwiched between two existing traditional Chick-fil-A restaurants, one on Mount Vernon Highway in an outparcel of Perimeter Pointe and another on Hammond Drive in an outparcel of Perimeter Mall. (There is also a third Chick-fil-A in the Perimeter Mall food court.)
Zaxby's, which sold a "significant stake" in its business to investment firm Goldman Sachs in early 2021, currently has more than 970 locations nationwide but could easily surpass 1,000 units in 2025 based on existing growth plans. Perhaps the new Dunwoody location could be number 1,000!
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